San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-10-06
PRIVATE LEGISLATION.
Proposed Measure for the Relief OF
Congress.

Proposed Measure for the Relief of
Congress.
Special to the Times Democrat.
WAsHINGTON, Oct 4.-The report OF
the special committee OF the American
Bar association on the relief OF congress
from private legislation, made at the
last annual meeting OF the association at
Saratoga, has been published In psmph-
let form, and is being widely circulated
among those who, directly or Indirectly,
have any influence 10 shaping national
legislation. The report shows that
In the fOrty-eighth congress there
were 2,SO5 bills introduced In the Sem
ate and 1854 in the House, making II,
I4l bills which were introduced into that
congress, whereof 9GG Tor q little more
than one in eleyen) became laws. OF
these 800, there were 2Si public and
6S2 private laws. OF these GS2 private
laws, 5SS were for pensiOns-thus leRv-
ing only 81 private OF all kinds other
than for pensions. Mr., Speaker Car
Isle, advarting TO this evil in his vale
dictOry address on March 4, 1885, said
From the organization Of the govern
ment to the twenty-fifth congress, a
period OF fifty years, there were intro
duced into the House sly bills and
joint resolutions, while during the
forty eighth congress there were SG37-
almost as many as during that half
century"
In the forty-niDth congress there were
introduced into the house ii ,526 bills
and Joint resolutions. whereof only 1929
passed that body. In the senate 3476
we're introduced, whereof 1923 passed
that body. Total introduced to both
houses, 1902.
OF this number. 1880 received the
presidents approval, 100 became laws
without his approval, and two were
passed over his veto, making total Of
1872 laws enacted, or less than one-tenth
of the number introduced. OF these, 423
we're public, and 1919 private bills.
The committee thinks that the diff
Guilty is fully met in a bill to regulate
the proceedings in congress upon pri-
vate claims, which was introduced In
the last session by Senator Pugh.
AS this bill will probably be re-intro-
duced next winter, its text Is here
given:
"Be 1t enacted by the senate and
house OF representatives of the United
States OF America In congress assem-
| bled: That every private claim, except
for pensions, for which relief Is
sought from congress shall be pre-
sented to the senate or house of repre-
sentatives by printed petition, IN which
| shall be fully set forth plain and con-
else statement Of the facts and Ciroum-
| stances upon which the claim is found
ed, giving time and place, free from ar
gumentative and irrelevant matter, all
payments made and all set-offs which
| ought to be allowed, what action there
on has been taken by any OF the depart
| ments, II known, and what relief Is
| sought, with the grounds therefor, and
the same shall be verified by the oath Of
the claimants or one of them.
Sec. 2. That the petition shall be re-
| ferred to a committee as other petitions
are referred. If the committee are Of
the opinion that the petition sets out a
claim, which, II sustained by the proof,
would merit some action thereon by
| congress, they may call for evidence
and proceed to the investigation thereof
themselves, or they may transmit the
same to the court of claims fer proof and
trial.
Sec. 3. That in the court of claims
cases so transmitted shall be proceeded
with as other cases are tried therein,
and under such rules as have been or
may be adopted. All laws relating to
i thC "Cthou VI III bdlu
so far as applicable, shall apply to such
| cases.
"Sec. 4. That II upon the trial the
court finds that the claimants, or any
of them, have proved a legal cause OF
action against the United States, which
is not previously barred by law, iudg-
ment shall be entered accordingly, with
right Of appeal to the supreme court
under existing laws and regulations. In
all other cases the court shall find the
facts and report the same to congress,
with such suggestions as may be
deemed useful for the consideration of
the committee in determining what re-
lief, II any, should be given.
"Sec. 8. That no bill for private relief,
except for pension, shall be presented to
the senate or house of representatives,
except through committee, after a pc
tition therefor has been considered and
Investigated as aforesaid by such COM
mittee or by the court Of claims"
Sec. 6. That reports from the court oil
claims shall be continued from congress
to congress until acted upon"
The total number of the visitors at st
Louis last week was 1873, 600. MIR. Could
Missouri Pacific railroad carried % ,OO
a n